How much does a medical secretary and administrative assistant make?
The median medical secretary and administrative assistant in the United States earns $45,930 per year, about $22.08 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all medical secretaries and administrative assistants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 43-6013.
Medical secretary and administrative assistant salary range
Pay for medical secretaries and administrative assistants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $35,930 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $60,530. The average (mean) wage of $46,800 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,930 | $17.27 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $38,570 | $18.54 | |
| Median (50th) | $45,930 | $22.08 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $50,580 | $24.32 | |
| 90th percentile | $60,530 | $29.10 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for medical secretaries and administrative assistants (SOC 43-6013), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Medical secretary and administrative assistant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants earn the most in Washington at $58,100 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $36,290. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $58,100 | 10,960 |
| California | $54,490 | 115,050 |
| Massachusetts | $50,290 | 22,210 |
| Oregon | $50,130 | 16,840 |
| Minnesota | $50,030 | 16,860 |
| Hawaii | $49,920 | 2,160 |
| District of Columbia | $49,180 | 1,930 |
| New Jersey | $48,660 | 20,980 |
| Connecticut | $48,500 | 6,480 |
| New Hampshire | $48,410 | 3,680 |
| Wisconsin | $48,380 | 7,760 |
| Vermont | $48,200 | 2,390 |
| Alaska | $47,870 | 2,520 |
| Maryland | $47,850 | 17,290 |
| New York | $47,710 | 57,720 |
| Maine | $46,990 | 4,610 |
| Nevada | $46,990 | 7,030 |
| Colorado | $46,920 | 11,560 |
| Rhode Island | $46,860 | 2,350 |
| Illinois | $46,670 | 27,560 |
| Virginia | $46,180 | 27,600 |
| Nebraska | $46,100 | 4,110 |
| Arizona | $45,820 | 18,090 |
| South Dakota | $45,810 | 80 |
| North Dakota | $45,390 | 1,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,930 | 27,600 |
| Idaho | $44,920 | 5,120 |
| Delaware | $44,500 | 4,510 |
| Wyoming | $44,430 | 1,110 |
| Utah | $44,330 | 5,260 |
| Ohio | $44,280 | 29,110 |
| New Mexico | $44,230 | 4,590 |
| North Carolina | $44,190 | 56,840 |
| Indiana | $44,060 | 21,180 |
| Missouri | $43,980 | 12,260 |
| Montana | $43,740 | 4,410 |
| Georgia | $43,160 | 39,380 |
| Kansas | $43,020 | 6,470 |
| Texas | $42,910 | 78,740 |
| Florida | $41,730 | 96,000 |
| Michigan | $41,100 | 27,960 |
| Iowa | $40,980 | 10,560 |
| South Carolina | $40,170 | 15,630 |
| Tennessee | $39,940 | 41,810 |
| Kentucky | $38,750 | 26,430 |
| West Virginia | $38,430 | 1,550 |
| Oklahoma | $38,330 | 8,430 |
| Arkansas | $37,000 | 2,190 |
| Alabama | $36,930 | 16,580 |
| Louisiana | $36,930 | 2,970 |
| Mississippi | $36,290 | N/A |
State median wages for medical secretaries and administrative assistants (SOC 43-6013), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for medical secretaries and administrative assistants
The BLS projects employment of medical secretaries and administrative assistants to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 979,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 1,026,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 89,200 openings a year for medical secretaries and administrative assistants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a medical secretary and administrative assistant
The typical entry-level education for medical secretaries and administrative assistants is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a medical secretary and administrative assistant earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $58,100) and the lowest (Mississippi, $36,290) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 961,610 people work as medical secretaries and administrative assistants in the United States. At $45,930 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Medical secretary and administrative assistant salary FAQ
How much does a medical secretary and administrative assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a medical secretary and administrative assistant is $22.08. The middle half of medical secretaries and administrative assistants earn between $18.54 and $24.32 per hour.
What is the highest medical secretary and administrative assistant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of medical secretaries and administrative assistants earn more than $60,530 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a medical secretary and administrative assistant make a year?
The median annual salary for a medical secretary and administrative assistant is $45,930. The average (mean) wage of $46,800 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a medical secretary and administrative assistant a well paid job?
At $45,930 a year, a medical secretary and administrative assistant earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 961,610 people work as medical secretaries and administrative assistants in the United States.
Which state pays medical secretaries and administrative assistants the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for medical secretaries and administrative assistants at $58,100 a year. California ($54,490) and Massachusetts ($50,290) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a medical secretary and administrative assistant a good career?
Employment of medical secretaries and administrative assistants is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 89,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a medical secretary and administrative assistant?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for medical secretaries and administrative assistants as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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